In all the years that I taught, there was never anything as powerful as seeing a child learn to read, for all of those letters and sounds to come together in perfect harmony and create words, words that mean something. It is truly nothing short of a miracle. Children become so empowered when they can read, it gives them a sense of independence and self esteem like few other skills can.
Ballantyne Reading Academy for the Very Young offers programs for children starting at 3, in these programs they start to teach the foundations for reading, print awareness, story telling, phonological awareness and more. Lessons are taught using individualized instruction that is fun, engaging and tailored to your child.
How is this different than what they are getting in pre-school? In pre-school, your child is one of 10 or more children, the basics are covered in pre-school, not the individualized instruction that children need to get a head start. The programs for little learners are theme based and offer children activities that include songs, poems, art and more to get them started on the right path for reading. In addition, they are now offering Play the Write Way, a fun writing class using Fundanoodle (which I have used with my own kids and love!)
Kiddos who are 5 and up fall into the Ready Readers groups. These groups use literature to engage children and get them reading, writing and learning. Workshops include The Mixed-Up World of Amelia Bedelia (such funny books!) with a focus on figurative language and Super Sluths, a new case is ready to be solved each week but it's a mystery what the case will be!
For your older kids, Storytellers and Storymakers has just been added for ages 6-10. These workshops will focus on writing elements, understanding how telling a story is the first step to writing and at the end of the session they will bring home their own published, original book.
You can see the full line up of Spring 2013 classes on their website along with registration information.
Now that you are as excited about the great programing as I am, let me tell you why you should trust the staff at Ballantyne Reading Academy with your kiddos. The staff has been educating children in a variety of settings for over 25 years. The owner, Lisa Palladino has a BA in Elementary Education, she is the co-author of a book on teaching using whole language, she has taught children in grades K-5 and was the Director of Early Childhood Education at a private pre-school. Bridget Ruller has been in education for over 15 years and has experience with grades K-3, gifted education, reading education and is trained in Reading Recovery, Jr Great Books and Odyssey of the Mind.
Ballantyne Reading Academy for the Very Young offers programing for all types of learners, in addition to reading instruction for young children, they offer enrichment for gifted students, remediation for struggling students and programing for home schooled students.
Don't take my word for it, just peek at their Facebook and check out the rave reviews from parents and see pictures of all the fun that the kids are having.
They have just released their summer camp info (see below) and they are waiving registration on all Spring AND Summer classes for SCMK readers! Make sure you let them know we sent you when you register so you can get your discount!
Here is the summer information:
Help your child maintain their reading skills over the summer! Or give your little one a head start going to preschool in the fall! Our exciting summer programs are for both emergent and independent readers. Even reluctant readers will get motivated through:
- Week long, thematic-based camps with lots of reading, writing, discussion, and multi-sensory letter play that engage students in their own learning!
- Literature-based activities including games, storytelling, poetry, songs and dance, with hands-on materials to expand reading and language skills.
- Developing link between reading and writing with responses to literature, while gaining confidence and enhancing skills.
And best of all: WE MAKE LEARNING FUN!
Camp info: Camps are divided into two age groups: 3 - 5 years (must be potty trained) and 6 - 10 years. Camps are Mon - Fri,
9am - 12 pm (snack provided). Campers will go home with an original, published writing product every Friday.
Tuition and fees: $150 per camp. One-time $10 registration fee. Camp size is limited, so advanced registration and payment are required. Sibling discount available. Choose from the camps below:
Ages 3 -5
June 17 - 21: S is for Superheroes!
Let Letterman show your Little Learner the power of reading!
Ages 6 - 10
June 10 - 14: It’s a Mystery: Creative Writing
Author Christy Lynn Allen shares clues on how to write a page-turning mystery!
July 8 - 12: Eating the Alphabet
Watch what grows in our garden of letters!
June 24 - 28: Popsicles and Poetry
Keep cool this summer with rhythm and rhyme!
July 22 - 26: An Author a Day...July 15 - 19: Far Away Fairy Tales
Keeps the summer boredom away!
July 15 - 19: Far Away Fairy Tales
We’ll go as far away as our imaginations will take us!
August 5 - 9: An Author a Day (Big Kid Edition)
Children’s author Avi said “Reading is the key to writing.”
We’ll read from other’s books, then write our own!
Finding a fun way to keep your kids skills sharp for the summer is not an easy task, I personally do believe in the summer slide (I have seen it too many times) and think that when we can find a fun, engaging and challenging way to keep our kids up to speed we need to jump on it!
